Wed. 4/12: Morning action in Carolina; Lunchtime game in Appleton

[Jim Goulart]

Thread will be utilized for any minor league news Wednesday, lineup updates, etc.

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores

Early starts for the Mudcats (10:00 AM Central) and Timber Rattlers (12:10 Central).

[Joseph Zarr]

It's the 5th frame already in Zebulon and those Mudcats bats continue to scuffle throughout the roster - 1H. BUT, alas, it is a two bagger by young and tantalizing Luke Adams (first game action in 2023) who is hitting out of the DH spot in the third slot if the batting order. 2-0 Salem. Let's get those bats going, young men!

[Joseph Zarr]

It is still 2-0 Salem as the 5-thru-9 spots in the Mudcats batting order are a combine 0-for-11 with 8 of the 11 Mudcats K's on the day. They will look to get something, anything, going here in the bottom of the 8th inning. Excited to review RHP Tyler Wehrle's relief outing a so far, in his Low-A debut: 4IP, 1H, 3BB, 4K, 0 R.

[Joseph Zarr]

Tunes into the T-Rats contest live and, just like that, Metzinger draws a two-out walk; advances to second on a wild pitch; and then Je'Von Ward continues seeing it and ripping it. The well hit line drive single to far right filed drives Metzinger home and it's 1-0 T-Rats headed to the third frame.

[Joseph Zarr]

A Terence Doston deep fly to CF ends in a triple - it fell about 3 feet from the deepest part of the warning track. Eric Brown Jr. followed with a walk. INF Robert Moore hit a high chopper to 1B driving in Doston. Gray Jr. followed with a pop up to the shallow grass behind 3B and Brown Jr. was caught leaving for 3B early - he beat the throw and tag at third, but slid past the bag in his rushed attempt to prevent the pick-off. On to the third frame where RHP Alexander Cornielle looks to continue seeing the minimum.

[Joseph Zarr]

OF Je'Von Ward is impressing in all facets early in 2023. He is showing great range, good reads, and a very good arm at both corners of the OF grass. I am impressed with what I am seeing.

[wiguy94]

Not at all a fan of Hall throwing that ball down to 2B with 2 strikes and 2 outs. Cost Cornielle a run. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Two two-out runs here in the fourth - some good long AB's fighting off pitches - have tied the game at 2 runs apiece. The first run across on Cornielle was a classic cheap bloop flare on a jam shot to shallow right center with the infield in. The second run was a questionable decision from both C Alex Hall and INF Robert Moore in a double steal - 1B to 2B and 3B to Home. Hall opted to throw to 2B (already a questionable decision) with the runner leaving 3B and Moore (who definitely might have tagged out the runner at 2B before the runner crossed) opted to attack Hall's throw in an attempt to nab the runner at Home. it didn't work. Successful double steal. 2-2.

[wiguy94]

Just now, Joseph Zarr said:

Two two-out runs here in the fourth - some good long AB's fighting off pitches - have tied the game at 2 runs apiece. The first run across on Cornielle was a classic cheap bloop flare on a jam shot to shallow right center with the infield in. The second run was a questionable decision from both C Alex Hall and INF Robert Moore in a double steal - 1B to 2B and 3B to Home. Hall opted to throw to 2B (already a questionable decision) with the runner leaving 3B and Moore (who definitely might have tagged out the runner at 2B before the runner crossed) opted to attack Hall's throw in an attempt to nab the runner at Home. it didn't work. Successful double steal. 2-2.

Did not like that play out of Hall especially with 2 strikes on the hitter. 

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, wiguy94 said:

Did not like that play out of Hall especially with 2 strikes on the hitter. 

Yup. Just hold onto it. He ended up striking out the batter, regardless. And, Moore needs to recognize the play was at 2B. Just a bad play all around. On to the next.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Alexander Cornielle's outing ends after 4 IP (3H, 1BB, 2ER, 4K) and 65 pitches. A fine first outing - he deserved better but, alas, the baseball gods had other things in mind. LHP Justin King gets his first action for the T-Rats in 2023. And, just like that, the Chiefs hit another extremely weak pop up to shallow center field and Garcia and Doston struggle to make the right play. Doston charges and drops while also attempting to avoid Garcia. Another sloppy defensive effort. Let's hope the young men can right the ship and start playing sharp! 

[Joseph Zarr]

And the unearned run scores with another bloop single to right center - paper cuts from the Chiefs and self-induced pain across the defense are the name of these middle innings for the T-Rats.

[wiguy94]

Ryan Brady might be a name to watch. This guys stuff looks very good for a high-A pitcher.

[Joseph Zarr]

Boy RHP Ryan Brady continues to throw really fantastic off-spead breaking stuff - lethal against these High-A righty bats. I am still trying to decipher if the pitch is a Slurve? It's nasty.

[Joseph Zarr]

2 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Ryan Brady might be a name to watch. This guys stuff looks very good for a high-A pitcher.

Yeah. Second outing I've watched (of two) and each time I've come away highly impressed. He showed even more tailing movement in on the bats with his heater. It would appear, by naked eye, he has a two-seamer and a four-seamer in his fastball arsenal - he can throw that level and rising he can bring it on on your bat. Really intriguing. That breaking ball is dirty.

[Joseph Zarr]

If I'm a High-A pitcher, I don't throw a single strike to INF Eduardo García. I haven't seen a single indication here early in 2023 he has evolved his pitch recognition or his ability to lay off off-speed down or outside the zone. He'll get an opportunity to drive in Moore and/or Gray Jr. (who has a 5-game hitting streak after ripping a line drive single to left field), however. Hopefully, Eduardo can find his patient approach and can knock some runs across.

[wiguy94]

Just now, Joseph Zarr said:

If I'm a High-A pitcher, I don't throw a single strike to INF Eduardo García. I haven't seen a single indication here early in 2023 he has evolved his pitch recognition or his ability to lay off off-speed down or outside the zone. He'll get an opportunity to drive in Moore and/or Gray Jr. (who has a 5-game hitting streak after ripping a line drive single to left field), however. Hopefully, Eduardo can find his patient approach and can knock some runs across.

He definitely drove them in. What an absolutely towering shot.

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, wiguy94 said:

He definitely drove them in. What an absolutely towering shot.

Yup. Fantastic drive past the Peoria bullpen. He threw him a heater center left cut. You can't do that versus his bat. You have to challenge him off-speed and away off the plate. Fantastic swing. More impressive, after laying off two inside pitches. These are the AB's we need to see. That was a mistake pitch and he took advantage. You love to see it!

[wiguy94]

I don't think I have ever seen a team with so many bloop singles in one game. Feel like at least half of Peoria's hits are bloops. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Everything that touches Brady's stuff is extremely weak contact. Just lots of weak dribblers in the infield dirt - lefties and righties alike. And, if I see another insanely weak Chiefs pop up find the outfield grass I might vomit. 😅

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, wiguy94 said:

I don't think I have ever seen a team with so many bloop singles in one game. Feel like at least half of Peoria's hits are bloops. 

Exactly. It's nauseating! Come on, now!

[Joseph Zarr]

Well that single to right field was ripped. That was the hardest hit off Brady in his two outings. Let's hope he can get out of this as those first two hits were dirt cheap. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Gray Jr. made a fantastic throw off the sac fly to right field and, naturally, Metzinger dropped the ball. 😂 I have seen some sloppy defense in every level of Brewers affiliated ball early in 2023. I'd love to see some of these more challenging plays become routine spectacular. Nobody is making that key dig at the corners in any level. Lots of dropped balls. Thankfully, Brady induces the fly out to left field. 5-4 T-Rats headed to the bottom of the 7th inning.

[wiguy94]

Eric Brown Jr with the classic dip the elbow in while making it look like you're attempting to get out of the way HBP. As much as I dislike this stuff, I think it is actually a skill that can be weaponized by hitters.

[Joseph Zarr]

Bases juiced. Nobody down. T-Rats RBI leader, INF Robert Moore, headed to the dish. Let's hope we can see the Rattlers get some more runs across.